Clarke FCCLA members visit state capital

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 9:53 a.m. CST

Members of the Clarke FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) chapter, along with 70 members from other FCCLA chapters across the state, attended the Iowa FCCLA Day at the state capitol Monday, Feb. 10.

Iowa FCCLA Day at the state capitol is an opportunity for Iowa FCCLA members to learn about the legislative process and why advocating for FCCLA is important.

In the morning, members took a tour of the state capitol and participated in advocacy training. Members experienced the legislative process in action as they spoke with their legislators about specific issues in today’s society that FCCLA helps to improve or solve.

Sofia Contreras, Dania Echeveste, Nathan McCann and LeeAnn Helgevold, who are members of the Clarke FCCLA chapter, spoke with Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, Rep. Joel Fry, R-Osceola, and State Auditor Mary Mosiman during their visit to the state capitol. They discussed the value of FCCLA and family and consumer sciences programs in Iowa and the chapter’s involvement within the community.

FCCLA, formerly FHA, teaches students financial literacy, health and nutrition, career preparation and early childhood development skills through family and consumer sciences education.

FCCLA programs are planned and run by student members. It is the only student-led organization with the family as its central focus. FCCLA has more than 220,000 members and nearly 7,000 chapters in 50 state associations, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The organization has involved more than 10 million youths since it was founded in 1945.